WITH the clocks set to go back this weekend and wintertime upon us the long range weather weather forecast for the winter months is suggesting that there will not be too much wintry weather for the UK, but more stormy conditions.

AccuWeather’s annual Europe winter forecast is suggesting that most of the snow and ice will be in Eastern Europe.

And AccuWeather long range forecasters predicted that the worst of the season’s windstorms will arrive early in the British Isles, Scandinavia and Northern Europe.

Meanwhile countries from Italy through to the Balkans are likely to experience a tranquil winter with long dry spells.

Will the Beast from the East make an appearance this winter?

AccuWeather meteorologist, Tyler Roys said this week: “An active start to the windstorm season is in the forecast for the British Isles, Northern Europe and into Scandinavia.

“However, the frequency of the storms will not reach its climax until the calendar turns to 2020.

“Early January is going to be the most active period. Storms that hit in quick succession could pose a heightened risk of wind damage and flooding as people will not have had much time to recover.

“Following an active weather pattern early in the winter the frequency of windstorms will decrease heading into February and March.

“The second-half of winter could be largely on the quiet side in regards to storminess which could open the door for cold shots which could chill the British Isles, but it won’t be a repeat of two winters ago when the Beast from the East roared in.”

Tyler said that forecasts certainly indicated that the harshest of the winter cold will grip Eastern Europe and Eastern Scandinavia.

“That part of the continent could see some brief cold shots in December but any true cold won’t happen until later in the season,” he added.